Prabowo Subianto Condemns Corruption, Demands Justice from Indonesian Courts

President Prabowo Subianto has expressed strong condemnation of corruption within Indonesia’s legal system, demanding that judges uphold justice and resist bribery. Speaking at an event for 1,451 judges at the Supreme Court Building in Central Jakarta on Thursday, June 12, 2025, Subianto also announced significant salary increases for judges, particularly those in junior positions.

The salary increases, with some reaching as high as 280% for junior judges, are intended to improve the welfare of judges and reduce the temptation for corruption. Subianto emphasized that these measures are crucial for ensuring a fair and just legal system in Indonesia.

Prabowo’s Message to the Judges: Uphold Justice

During his address, Prabowo Subianto conveyed a stern message to the judges, highlighting their critical role in upholding justice. He expressed his frustration that corrupt individuals often evade punishment in court, undermining the efforts of law enforcement.

“it’s useless we have a great police, a great soldier. The corruptor, the thief, the bastard, so go to the court,” Prabowo stated, emphasizing the need for judges who cannot be bought or influenced.

Did You Know? According to clarity International’s 2023 Corruption Perception Index, Indonesia scored 34 out of 100, indicating a serious corruption problem. A score of 100 is very clean,and 0 is highly corrupt. This highlights the urgency of Prabowo’s efforts to reform the judiciary.

Salary Increases and Judicial Welfare

Prabowo Subianto acknowledged that judges had not received a salary increase in 18 years, despite handling cases involving trillions of rupiah. He expressed concern that some judges where still working on contracts and lacked official residences. The approved salary increases aim to address these issues and ensure that judges are adequately compensated for their crucial role.

“As soon as I became my president, I asked the condition of the judge. Sir, the judges had not received an increase, 18 years when the judges handled trillions of cases,” he noted.

The Judge as the Last Fortress of Justice

Prabowo stressed the importance of judges as the “last fortress of justice,” particularly for ordinary citizens who cannot afford expensive legal representation. He urged judges to side with the small community and ensure that justice prevails, nonetheless of wealth or influence.

“Small people can only hope for just judges. Strong people,people who have a lot of money he can do,he can have an extraordinary legal team,” Prabowo explained.

Pro Tip: Citizens can report suspected judicial corruption to Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to help maintain integrity in the legal system.

Key Metrics of Indonesian Judicial Reform

Future Plans

Prabowo also assured other government employees that their salaries would be increased as the country’s financial situation improves.He emphasized the importance of protecting and managing Indonesia’s wealth for the benefit of all its citizens.

“And all other employees are patient, I have seen the numbers of our country strong, prosperous, rich, the critically important thing is we must protect the wealth, we must manage as much as possible for the interests of the Indonesian people,” he said.

What steps do you think are most crucial for combating corruption in Indonesia’s legal system? How can citizens contribute to ensuring judicial integrity?

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